Hypodermic-injection apparatus



E. s. PAlsLEY ET AL.

HYFODERMIC-INJECTION APPARATUS Aug. l, 1939.

Filed Nov. 21,- 195e v We a 7 0 2 @Q 7 //2 A6 26 9 e ...www 1 LMI/22 I @VN .J l

v Elli/mod t Patented Aug. l, 19,39

l, UNITED STATES HYPODERMIC-INJ ECTION `APPARATUS Ellwcoa s. Paisley and Allen F. Peten, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to 'TheNational Drug Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation o Pennsylvania Application November 21, 193s, serial No. 112.094

1s claims. (cl. 12s- 214) The object of the invention is to provide improvements in hypodermic-injecton apparatus, and more particularly in the combination of a reservoir-container with a new design of elastic l 5 closure, and a most eilicient canula or stylus unit, whereby liquid is led from said reservoircontainer into the usual exibletube, to the opposite end of which any desired or available form of hypodermic needle is attached.

vAnother object is to provide an elastic closure,

which normally seals the outlet of the reservoir, but through which a sharpened tubular stylus may be inserted for leading liquid from such reservoir, while a surrounding tubular inlet stylus which is also pointed enters a chamber within the body of said closure, said chamber having 'an opening preferably spaced from the inner end of said iirst stylus, by which air may enter said reservoir other than by wayI of said rstor diszo charge stylus, thereby preventing any of such air from entering the tube-which leads to the hypodermic needle, there being preferably connected to said chamber opening a freely upwardly extending tube, operative to lead the entering air upwardly away from said first or discharge stylus, to a point above the surface of whatever liquid may be within said reservoir.

A further object is to provide an improved stylus unit, of which the two styli mentioned form unitary parts, and by way of which air is iirst ltered before b eing led to and through the said inlet stylus, and which unit is of a construction involving exceedingly lowexpense to make, and therefore, replace,` as well as being designed to permit ready disassembly, cleansing,

reassembly and sterilization.

Still another object is to provide a simplified form of flow meter, by which the .flow through the apparatus can be readily visualized and determined in drops per minute, and which iiow can -be regulated by any suitable form of clamp, valve, or other form of flow-regulating means.

With the objects of the invention thus broadly stated, the invention comprises numerous addi-1 tional details of construction and operation,

which are hereinafter fully brought -out in the following description, when read in conjunctionper se; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of said closure.

-when in the position shown in Fig; 3; Fig. 5 is a bottom planview ofthe said closure when in the same position; Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 8 6 o! Fig. 1; and Fig. '7 is a similar 5 section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1.v

Referring to the drawing, the normal .lower portion of anysuitabie form of reservoir container I is shown as comprising an outlet opening 2, surrounding by an annular flange or neck 10 3, said reservoir being adapted to hold any de- Vsired type of liquid represented by the level I.

It is to be'understood, however, that `the particular type of reservoir here shown is not to-be considered as in any way limiting the invention l5 hereinafter described, as the reservoir itself may -be of any desired type, and is, therefore, merelyv represented by a portion of such a reservoir as` is, shown in greater detail in co-pending application Serial No. 85,253, filed June 15, 1936. 20

The improved closure here illustrated comprises a body portion 5, having an internal chamber 6, from which a channel opening 1 leads through .the normally upper or inner surface of said closure, the surface of said channel opening 25 being preferably provided with an annular groove 8, in which is adapted to be positioned a radially enlarged flange 9, carried b y the normallower endof-a glass. or similar tube Ill, which extends as far as may be desired above the-uppermost 30 level lof the liquid within the container I. Extending into said body 5 from said upper orinnerv surface is a relatively slender channel II, which terminates in spaced relation with the chamber 6, and is separated from said chamber by means 35 of a puncturable diaphragm section i2.

A second channel I3, preferably somewhat larger Vthan the channel I2 and coaxial therewith, extends downwardly from said chamber 6,

towards, but terminates in spaced relation with 40 the normal lower or outersurface of said body 5, providing a second puncturable diaphragm section Il. The position of the said larger channel I3 may be indicated -by means of a suitable surface irregularity I5 upon the outer surface'of 45 said closure body, and mayccomprise, for instance, a slight extension `or boss, as 'shown in Figs. 3 and 5, or may comprise a depressed area,

so far as the invention is concerned, except that the depressed area or recess would provide greater opportunityfor the collection of undesirable impurities or foreign matter, than doesl an extension or boss, such as that shown'. f

Said closure is also 'preferably provided with an elastic flange 5a, which normally surrounds yi515 the reservoir neck 3, to thereby doubly insure a hermetic sealing of,the reservoir outlet 2, and positively prevent the entrance of foreign matter into or the uncontrolled escape of liquid from,

5 said reservoir. I

A stylus unit is shown as comprising a preferably cylindrically shaped glass or other form of hollow member I6, having a preferably restricted, downwardly extending, open end I1, in which is positioned a closure I8 of rubber or other suitable material, provided with apreferably axial bore I9, in which is positioned the lower end portion of a tubular stylus 28, said stylus preferably be- I'ing provided with an annular ange 2|, which engages and may be embeddedl within the inner enlarged end portion 22 of said closure I8, all of which construction operates to prevent said stylus from shifting downwardly, when pressure is applied to the adjacent conical surface 23 of said hollow member, to force the opposite freely extending pointed end prtion 24 of said stylus through the puncturable diaphragms I4 and I2, consecutively, as well as through the preferably aligned channels I3 and Il, until said free end 25 of the stylus extends above the inner surface of said closure body 5 and into the liquid within said reservoir. 'Ihe diameter of the upper channel I3, being less than the outside diameter of said stylus, the elastic walls of this channel bindingly grip said stylus and thus prevent either liquid or air from flowing in opposite directions by the outer surface of said stylus. k

A second tubular stylus surrounds said first stylus and in spaced relation therewith, the inner end of said Vsecond or larger stylus communicating with the interior of the hollow member I6, and being also provided with a pointed terminal portion 26, which is adapted to follow the terminal portion 24 of said flrst stylus, through the puncturable diaphragm I4 and adjacent channel I3, but ceases such inward movement through the body of said closure, when its inner open end is positioned within and communicates with the interior of the closure chamber 5. The proper limit of movement of said styli inwardly is predetermined by means of a freely extending reduced end portion 21, carried integrally`by a closure 28 for the otherwise normally open upper end portion of said hollow member I5, said lastnamed closure being also provided with an annular flange 29, to limit its movement into said hollow member, and with a plurality of substantially longitudinally extending bores 30, providing apertures by means of which air is adapted to enter the interior of said hollow member.

Said last-mentioned closure 28 is provided with an axial bore 3|` of sufflcient'size to receivel the larger stylus 25, while preferably midway between its ends, it is provided with an annular recess 32, adapted to receive the relatively shallow annular flange, with which said larger stylus is provided, in order to thereby prevent longitudinal movement of said larger stylus with respect to said last-mentioned closure. Surroundend of this closure, is positioned an annular filter medium 34, which may be held in operative position by any suitablemeans, such for instance, as A control of the flow-regulating means 38.

ing said larger stylus, and adjacent to the inner.

filter medium, as' when shifting the apparatus from upright to inverted position.

vIt will also be noted that the first-mentioned stylus 20 is preferably provided with an annular fiange 36, adjacent to, but normally spaced from 5 contact with the inner end of the larger stylus, the function of this ange being to prevent the longer inner stylus from being pulled outwardly 1 from the stylus unit, when the operator grips either the hollow member I6 or its closure 28, to lov withdraw said styli from said reservoir closure 5. The filter 34 obviously spans the entire radial distance between the outer stylus and the inner surface of said hollow member, in order to insure effective filtering of air entering said hollow 15 member by way of the channel-like apertures 30 in the closure 28, and before such air passes through said larger stylus 25, and enters the reservoir I by way of the chamber 6, channel opening 1 and tube I0. 20

To the lower restricted end of the hollow member I6 is Asecured a section of rubber tubing or the like 31, with which may be operatively associated any suitable form of flow-controlling means, such as is represented by the variable 25 clamp 38, the opposite end of this section of tubing being attached to the upper and preferably restricted open end 38 of a' transparent hollow\ member 40, which is preferably formed of glass and frequently referred to as a drip meter, or so flow-indicating device. 'Ihe lower end 40aof said device is then connected by any desired length ofl flexible tubing 4I to an ordinary hypodermic needle 42. Into the upper end of the transparent member 40 is removably inserted a nozzle 43, 35 preferably formed of rubber and having an axial bore 44, which emerges downwardly through the preferably tapered end of said nozzle, extending freely into the member 40 and from which liquid flowing from the reservoir I is adapted to drip at 40 variable rates of ow, usually indicated and designated by the number of drops per minute, under This nozzle is also preferably provided with a transversely enlarged or flanged head' 45, winch nor- 45 mally rests upon the annular edge of the upper portion 38 of the member 40, to prevent said nozzle from being forced by liquid pressure, gravity, or otherwise, into the member 48', and being normally maintained against said upper edge by the -50 elastic binding nature of the tubular' section 31.

In the operation of this device, the several parts are assembled and inter-connected, as shown in Fig. 1, the ow controlling means 38 being initially in -closed position. With the opening and adjustment of said.lastnamed means, the weightof the liquid, within said reservoir tends to flowtherefrom by gravity through the 'inner stylus 20, tubing section- 31, nozzle 43, flowindicating member 48, tube 4I and needle 42. 60 'Ihis uninterrupted ow is permitted by air being enabled to freely enter said reservoir to replace the liquid withdrawn therefrom, first through the bores-30 of the closure of the hollow member I6, the filter 34, hollow member I6, and thence up- 65 wardly throughthe outer or shorter stylus 25,

' reservoir closure chamber 8 and tube I0, as hereinbefore described.

Furthermore, in interpreting the appended claims, it is to be understood thatthe particular form of the device' hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, -is m e 1;ely illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, and that said invention is capable of being modified in many ways, as to the exact de# tails of its construction and operation, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is: y

l. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, an elastic reservoir closure. comprisingA a body portion having an internal chamber, an outlet from said chamber leading through the normal inner surface of said body, a channel leading from said chamber towards but terminating short of the normal outer surface of said body, and a second channel leading from the inner surface of said body but terminating short of said chamber.

2. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, an

elastic reservoir closure, comprising a body'portion having an internal chamber, an outlet from- ,said chamber leading through the normal inner surface of said body, a channel leading from said chamber towards but terminating short of the normal outer surface of said body, a second channel leading from the inner surface of said body but terminating short of said chamber, a tubular stylus adapted to extend into said chamber by way of said second channel, and a secondl stylus adapted to extend through said body by way of said first channel, said first stylus being operative to lead air into said chamber and through said closure, as liquid flows outwardly through/ said second stylus.v

A 4. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, an elastic reservoir closure, comprising a body portion having an internal chamber, an outlet from said chamber leading through the normal inner surface of said body, a channel leading fromA said chamber towards but terminating short of the normal outer surface of said body; a second channel leading from the inner surface 'ofsaid body but terminating short of said chamber, a tubular stylus adapted to extend into said chamber by way of said second channel, a second stylus adapted to extend through said body by way of said rst channel, said rst stylus being operative to lead air into said chamber and through said closure, as liquid ows outwardly through said second stylus, and a tube extending into said chamber outlet and operative to leadv entering air to a point remote from said second stylus.

5. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, an elastic reservoir closure, comprising a body portion having an internal chamber, an outlet from 'said chamber leading through the normal inner said chamber, while the inner stylus being longer continues through said second channel to the inner surface of said body.

6. In' a hypodermic-injection apparatus, an

elastic lreservoir closure, comprising a body portion having an internal chamber, an outlet from said chamber leading through the normal inner surface of said body, a channel leading from said chambentowards but terminating short of the normal outer surface ofsaid body, a second ing shorter than the inner and terminating in said chamber, while the inner stylus being longer continues through said second channel to the inner surface of said body, and a tube extending into said chamber outlet and operative to lead entering air to a point remote from said last-mentioned stylus. l 7. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, a stylus unit comprising a hollow member, a tubular stylus extending through and beyond one end of said member without communicating with the interior thereof, and a second tubular stylus extending from a terminus within the interior of and beyond the same end of said member but of less extent outwardly than said rst stylus, means to close one end of said member adjacent to said styli except for an air-inlet passage, and the opposite end of said member being closed except'for saidfirst stylus.

8. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, a.

stylus unit comprising a hollow member, a tubular stylus yextending through and beyond one end of said member without communicating with ythe interior thereof, a second tubular stylus extending from a terminus within the interior of and beyond the same end of said member but of less extent outwardly than said first stylus,

means to close one end of said member adjacent to said styii except for an air-inlet passage, and the opposite end of said member being closed except for said first stylus, and means to filter air which enters said member and passes therefrom through said second stylus.

9. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, a stylus unit comprisingy a, hollow member having oppositely directed open ends, a tubular stylus terminating adjacent to one end and extending freely through the opposite end of said member, means to seal the space between the ilrst end of said stylusy and the adjacent open end of said member, a second stylus larger than and surrounding the irst stylus and communicating with the interior of said member, said second stylus also extending through the said opposite end of said member but terminating short of said first stylus, and apertured means to seal the space between said second stylus and the adjacent end portion of said member.

10. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, a stylus unit comprising a hollow member having oppositely directed open ends, a tubular stylus terminating adjacent to one endand extending freely through the opposite end of said member, means to seal the space between the rst end of said stylus and the adjacent open end of said member, a second stylus larger than and surrounding the Afirst stylus and communicating with the interior of said member, said second stylus also extending through the said opposite end of said member but terminating short of said first stylus,"apertured means to seal the space be'- 'tween said second stylus andthe adjacent end l prtion'of said member, and a lter medium within said member to filter air enteringsaid 4 said apertured sealing means.

member through said apertured sealing means before it leaves. said member by way of said second stylus.

11. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, a stylus unit comprising a hollow member having oppositely directed open ends, a tubular stylus terminating adjacent to one end and extending freely throughithe opposite end of said member, means to seal the space between the first end of said stylus and the adjacent open end of said member, a second stylus larger than and surrounding the first stylus and communicating with the interior of said member, said second stylus also 'extending through the said opposite end of said member but terminating short of said rst stylus, apertured means to seal the space between said second stylus and the adjacent end portion of said memberaand an annular filter medium surrounding said second stylus upon the inner side of said apertured sealing means, to lter air entering said member through said apertured means before it leaves said member by way of said second stylus.

12. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, a stylus unit comprising a hollow member having oppositely directed open ends. a tubular stylus terminating adjacent to one end and extending freely through the opposite end of said member, removable means to seal the space between the rst end of said stylus and the adjacent open end of said-memberka second stylus larger than and surrounding the flrst stylus and communicating with the interior of said member, said second stylus also extending through the said opposite end of said member but terminating short of said first stylus, apertured means to seal the space between said second stylus and the adjacent end portion of said member, an annular filter medium surrounding said second stylus upon the inner side of said apertured sealing means, to filter air entering said member through said apertured means before it leaves said member by way of said second stylus, and means to prevent said filter medium from shifting with respect to said second stylus.

13. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, a stylus unit comprising a hollow member having oppositely directed open ends, a tubular stylus terminating adjacent to one end and extending freely through the opposite end of said member, removable means to seal the space between the rst end of said stylus and the adjacent open end of said member, a second stylus larger than and surrounding the first stylus and communicating with the interior of said member, said second stylus also extending through the said opposite end of said member but terminating short of said first stylus, aperturedmeans to seal the space between said second stylus and the adjacent end portion of said member, and means to prevent said second stylus from shifting with respect to 14. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, a stylus unit comprising a hollow member having oppositely directed open ends, a tubular stylus terminatingv adjacent to one end and extending freely through the opposite end of said member, removable means toY seal the space between the first end of said stylus and the adjacent open end of said member, a second stylus larger than and surrounding the first stylus and communicating with the interior of -said member, said second stylus also extendingI through the said opposite first stylus, apertured means to seal the space between `said second stylus and the adjacent end portion of said member, means to prevent said second stylus from shifting with respect to said apertured sealing means, and means to prevent said first stylus from shifting'outwardly with respect to second stylus,

15. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, a stylus unit comprising a hollow member having oppositely directed open ends, a tubular stylus terminating adjacent to one end and extending freely through the opposite end of said member, removable means to seal the space between the rst end oi said stylus and the adjacent open end of said member, a'second stylus larger than and surrounding the first stylus and communicating with the interior of said member, said second stylus also extending through the said opposite end of said member but terminating short of said rst stylus, apertured means to seal the space between said second stylus and the adjacent end portion of -said member, means to prevent said second stylus from shifting with respect to said apertured sealing means, and means to prevent said rst stylus from shifting a substantial distance in either opposite direction longitudinally.

16'. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, a

4stylus unit comprising a hollow member having oppositely directed open ends, a tubular stylus terminating adjacent to one end and extending freely through the opposite end of said member, removable means to seal the space between the first end of said stylus and the adjacent open end of said member, a second stylus larger than and surrounding the first stylus and communieating with the interior of said member, said second stylus also extending through the said opposite end `of said member but terminating short of said rst stylus, apertured means to seal the space between said second stylus and the adjacent end portion of said member, and lmeans to prevent said apertured means from entering said member farther than a predetermined distance.

17. In a hypodermic-iru'ection apparatus, an

elastic reservoir closure, comprising a body portion having an internal chamber, an outlet from said chamber leading through the normal inner 4surface of said body, a channel leading from said 18. In a hypodermic-injection apparatus, the

combination of a reservoircontainer having an opening surrounded by a flange, with a closure comprising an elastic body having an internal chamber and a peripherally extending elastic flange, which when surrounding said reservoir iiange being operative with said body to hermetically seal the opening thereinto, said body being provided with an outlet into said reservoir through the inner surface ofsaid body, a channel leadi-ng from said chamber towards but separated from the outer surface of said bo'dy by a stylus-puncturable diaphragm, and a second channel leading from theinner surface of' said body towards but separated from said chamber by a stylus-puncturable diaphragm.

, ELLWOOD S. PAISLEY.

ALLEN F. PE'I'ERS. 

